In a major fire, a carpet warehouse blazed all night on the edge of Northampton and fumes still hung in the air as play began. Whether it was the effect of this or of lack of focus in an end-of-season “dead” match, error abounded in the first session.

Inserting Middlesex, Northamptonshire conceded four wides in the opening hour, sprayed the ball with abandon and dropped Billy Godleman from a comfortable chance to third slip